Dr. Erika James

Biography

Erika H. James became the dean of the Wharton School on July 1, 2020. She is a trained organizational psychologist and a leading expert in crisis leadership, workplace diversity, and management strategy. Prior to her role at Wharton, she served as the John H. Harland Dean of Emory University's Goizueta Business School from 2014 to 2020. Recognized as an award-winning educator and accomplished consultant, James has made significant contributions to the advancement of women in leadership roles within corporate America. She has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking executive education programs, including the Women’s Leadership program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School. James is a sought-after thought leader and has shared her expertise in major media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. In addition to her academic responsibilities, she serves on the boards of Morgan Stanley and the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. Moreover, she is an advisory board member at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management and the Indian School of Business. Her latest book, "Prepared Leader: Emerge Crisis Resilient Than," was co-authored with Lynn Perry Wooten, who also collaborated with her on the book "Leading Under Pressure." James holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pomona College of the Claremont Colleges in California.

Research Interests